The pre-qualification questionnaire for the design, building, financing, operation and maintenance of the Malta-Gozo Tunnel, has had four bidders, as of today, the deadline for the call.

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg and Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri, said that the call for participation in a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) which Infrastructure Malta was issued in January 2020, and extended until today after a request by prospective bidders.

There were four bidders in total, composed of two consortia and two companies from Malta and several other countries, including Italy, Turkey, France, China, the Netherlands, South Korea and Japan.

The four competitors who submitted their PQQ by today, include two consortia and two companies. They are Salini Impregilo S.p. A., CGYI Malta Gozo Consortium, Equitix – Itochu – Yapi Merkezi – Makyol – Egis Consortium and Malta Gozo Fixed Link Limited.

Infrastructure Malta said that at this stage of the process, which was launched last January, it invited prospective bidders to provide information and documentation that demonstrates their experience in similar tunnel developments, that confirms their environmental and health and safety record and that attests they possess the technical and financial resources to successfully implement this project.“We can now see further progress on a project that will give more equal opportunities to Gozitans,” stated Minister Borg.

He added that, “this is another step forward towards more connectivity, quality infrastructure for everyone and new facilities for the people, especially those who live in Gozo. I look forward to taking more steps forward together and to see that this Gozitan dream, which has become a dream of the government, will finally become reality.”

Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri said that the interest of international consortia in the project “encourages the Government to continue implementing what, for many Gozitans, used to be just a dream.”

He expressed his satisfaction with this news and explained that this tunnel “will give many advantages to Gozitans to cross the channel daily to go to work.”

Minister Camilleri went on to say that this project will be the largest infrastructural project in Malta and Gozo, “and one looks forward for the process to continue so that the permanent link can happen.”

“The permanent link will mean that Gozitans can be more optimistic about accessing any opportunity, equal to any other Maltese citizen,” the Gozo Minister said.

“This government has made an effort to improve the economic situation in Gozo and considers this project as one that will ensure the rebirth of the social and economic spheres of the island,” he added.

Minister Camilleri concluded by saying that “Gozo and Gozitans are being given priority thanks to an infrastructural investment that is prioritising the economic, social and environmental characteristics of Gozo.”The tunnel between Malta and Gozo is expected to be 14 kilometres long and will be partially subsea, with one lane in each direction and another in the middle in cases of emergency.

An evaluation board will now assess the pre-qualification questionnaires based on pre-established criteria defined it the PQQ documentation published in January. It will then invite the successful competitors to proceed to the next stages of this procurement process.

Infrastructure Malta explained that the call for the PQQ indicated that the Government’s preferred option is for this project to be self-financed, without any form of guarantees or subsidies.

Details on tolls or other fees for tunnel users were not being requested in the PQQ stage. The Agency said that they will be identified during the final stage, which will focus on the bidders’ financial proposals.

The successful bidders of the initial PQQ stage will qualify for the second stage, which includes an Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD).

The Agency said that during this stage, participants will submit detailed technical plans of the proposed tunnel structure as well as the implementation, operation and maintenance solutions they would adopt if entrusted with the concession.

 

Each participant will be invited to dialogue meetings to explain the proposal to the evaluation team analysing each proposal.

The Agency went on to say that the selection process will be concluded with the Best and Final Offer (BAFO) stage. Bidders who participate in the ITPD stage will be requested to submit a final proposal for the project.

This will include a detailed technical and financial offer based on the solution proposed in the previous stage. The selection team will then identify and recommend the best offer based on pre-established criteria, the Agency said.

Top Photo by Alain Salvary and middle DOI/Reuben Piscopo

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